Diarmuid O'Sullivan has claimed there were instances of crushing in the crowd at Sunday’s Clare-Cork game in Ennis.
There was a massive downpour during the game at Cusack Park with thunder and lightning breaking out as supporters ran for cover with potentially disastrous consequences, according to the former Cork star.
O’Sullivan told Paddy Power News: “So many questions can be raised about Sunday, like where does player welfare come into the equation? Where does the welfare of the patrons come into the equation? Where was the welfare when people and children tried to get in under the covered terrace? A lot of people started to be crushed inside it.
“It wasn't just a five, 10-second downpour, a flash or two of lightning and a clap of thunder. It was incessant.
“You have to think about the guys on the field and the 16,000 patrons who'd paid into the game. There was umbrellas up inside the terraces and my two young lads were inside that terrace.
“What if someone's umbrella had been by lightning and diverted to a child for argument's sake? Who's responsible for it?
“I know that these might sound dramatic or be bleak questions to answer, because it only happens once in a blue moon.
“There wasn't significant stewarding either, but I believe the game should have been stopped for a while on safety grounds.”
The Munster Council issued a statement to MirrorSport following O’Sullivan’s claims, defending referee Paud O’Dwyer’s decision to continue with the game and outlining how there were no reports of crushing at the post-event meeting attended by gardai and stewards.
In all, the Munster Council said there were 200 stewards and 18 gardai on duty.
The statement read: “The referee felt that while the rain was very heavy for a period of time, the playing surface did not become unplayable.
"He and his officials did consider a temporary break to the game, but the rain eased shortly after that and they decided to continue. Event control did not deem it necessary to order a cancellation or stoppage in play.”
The statement added that “a quick evacuation of the stadium would have happened, if it was deemed necessary” and that “supporters cannot move from the uncovered terraces to the covered terrace in the stadium and this is done to prevent a possible crush taking place in the event of heavy rain and people seeking shelter”.
If you haven't already, be sure to like our Irish Mirror Sport and Irish Mirror GAA pages on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
